James Logan-Washington game preview

Capsules with more information to come later, but here’s some stuff to chew on.

The final two undefeated Mission Valley Athletic League teams square off tonight at 7 at James Logan High.
Visiting Washington, which started out the year with four straight nonleague losses, have won four straight in MVAL action and brings in a 4-4 overall mark and a 4-0 league record.
It’s been almost the same story for Logan, which went 0-4 in nonleague games. The Colts’ first win of the season came in Week 3, a 17-3 win over Newark Memorial. Logan enters with a 3-4 overall record and is 3-0 in MVAL play.
And MVAL play is where the Colts have been simply dominant. They have won 18 straight, back-to-back league titles and 58 of the last 59.
Logan’s last loss in league play came in 2005 when it suffered a 49-28 loss to league champion Irvington. Washington hasn’t been able to figure the Colts out since the 1998 season when it claimed a 6-3 win. Coincidentally, that was also the year of Washington’s last league title as it went 6-0 (9-2 overall).
But this game has more meaning than just a league title. Both coaches figure the winner will get into the newly formed North Coast Section Division I playoffs and the loser is likely to get left out.
“For me it’s gigantic and I hope my kids take is as serious as I do,” Washington coach Ken Wittmer said. “I think we’re focused and I know we’re ready.”
For Logan, there is quite a lot on the line. Not only do the Colts have a gaudy league win streak going, it also has a string of nine straight NCS appearances.
“We’re excited about playing in another big game,” Logan coach George Zuber said. “I told the guys this is the first round of the playoffs. If we lose, we’re out of the playoffs.”
Washington brings in a high-potent spread-type of offense — tops in the MVAL averaging 323.1 yards and 33.9 points. The Huskies are led by a quarterback in David Ross (a lefty) and wide receiver Rahsaan Vaughn — both league leaders at their respective positions.
what will be missing on Washington’s side is running back Elbert Kirby, who was dismissed from the team due to an “administrative decision,” Wittmer confirmed earlier this week.
Logan’s defense comes in ranked tops in the league — and one of the best in the East Bay (173.1 yards and 14.4 points allowed per game).
The Colts have a junior quarterback in Jonathan Willis, who has handled the position quite well for someone who was wasn’t even a starter on the junior varsity team last year.
“Every game he’s gotten better and better,” Zuber said. “He’s learning every week. We really enjoy watching him get better. He’s a field General. He commands the offense.”
The matchup most people will have their eyes on is cornerback Brandon Arnold (6-foot, 220 pounds) on Vaughn (6-1, 180). Though Vaughn is hardly the team’s lone down field threat. Fellow wide receivers Jeremy Richard (24 receptions, 358 yards and four touchdowns) and Kevin Pinheiro (18-248 and four touchdowns) have emerged as go-to guys.